Biology at The College of Wooster

Wooster's biology program produces graduates earning slightly above state and national medians, though the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates tracked—means these numbers could shift considerably with more data. At $32,462 in first-year earnings, graduates edge ahead of Ohio's typical biology major ($31,017) and essentially match the national figure. What's notable is the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80, which sits comfortably below the worry threshold of 1.0 and compares favorably to the national debt median.

The 22% earnings bump from year one to year four suggests decent early-career trajectory, reaching nearly $40,000 by year four. However, this still lags behind several Ohio programs—Ohio Dominican and the Miami University campuses all see their biology graduates earning around $38,000 right out of the gate. For a selective liberal arts college with a 1370 average SAT, you might expect stronger initial placement, particularly given the tuition premium these schools typically command.

The real question is whether Wooster's liberal arts environment and research opportunities justify potentially slower earnings growth compared to larger state institutions. The debt load is manageable, and outcomes are solidly middle-of-the-pack. But if your child is certain about biology as a career path, those higher-performing Ohio programs deserve serious consideration—especially if they're considering graduate school and want to minimize undergraduate debt while maximizing early earnings.